Hawaii Approves Same Sex Marriage Bill

The Hawaii state senate approved legislation extending marriage rights to same sex couples on Tuesday. The bill passed the final legislative hurdle with a 19-4 vote, putting Hawaii on course to be the 15thstate to legalize gay marriages. Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, called the special legislative session to consider the bill and “has indicated he would swiftly sign the legislation into law,” Reuters reports. Last week, the state House of Representatives heard 56 hours of testimony during a five-day public hearing before voting to approve the bill on Friday night. The new law would allow for same-sex marriages to being taking place in the state on Dec. 2.